Electronic web sticky

ABSTRACT

A method to provide an electronic web sticky may include placing a web sticky icon proximate to a selected feature on a web page to which the web sticky may be associated. The method may also include providing a plurality of options for selecting a web sticky type.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/163,141 filed Oct. 6, 2005 the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the Internet, private networks or thelike, and more particularly to a method and system for providing anelectronic web sticky in association with a selected item on a web page,a selected portion of a web page or the like.

There are often times when a user of the Internet, private network orthe like may take a special interest in a specific feature on a webpage, such as an item on the web page or portion of a web page, aspecific image, section of text, a link that contains data or the like,that the user may want to be drawn to on return trips to the web page.Alternatively, the user may note a problem with a web page, such asmisinformation, a dead link or the like. Currently, a user may bookmarkan entire page and use some other medium external to the actual webpage, such as a physical sticky note, Personal Data Assistance (PDA),text file or similar means, to remind themselves what anchor or actualfeature on the web page was of interest to them and, also possibly, thereason why the feature interested them. Use of these different media todocument points or features of interest within a web page can becumbersome and difficult to organize. Such means are not readily orautomatically moveable with the user from one system to another and arenot capable of being easily shared with others, such as the owner orprovider of the web site. Web site owners may provide means for users toshare feedback, such as discussion forums, blogs or the like. However,such forums do not provide a means to tie the feedback to a specificanchor or feature on the web page.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method toprovide an electronic web sticky may include placing a web sticky iconproximate to one of a selected feature on a web page to which the websticky is to be associated. The method may also include providing aplurality of options for selecting a web sticky type.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a systemto provide an electronic web sticky may include a web sticky applicationoperable on a processor for a user to place a web sticky icon proximateto a selected feature on a web page to which the web sticky may beassociated. The system may also include a plurality of optionspresentable to a user by the web sticky application for selecting a websticky type.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, acomputer program product to provide an electronic web sticky may includea computer usable medium having computer usable program code embodiedtherein. The computer usable medium may include computer usable programcode configured to facilitate placing a web sticky icon proximate to aselected feature on a web page to which the web sticky is to beassociated. The computer usable medium may also include computer usableprogram code configured to provide a plurality of options for selectinga web sticky type.

Other aspects and features of the present invention, as defined solelyby the claims, will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in theart upon review of the following non-limited detailed description of theinvention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B (collectively FIG. 1) are a flow chart of an example ofa method to provide an electronic web sticky in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary web page illustrating an example an electronicweb sticky feature in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary web page illustrating an example of a personalelectronic web sticky in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary web page illustrating an example of a privateelectronic web sticky in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary web page illustrating an example of a publicelectronic web sticky in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a web sticky summary page for a web site inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example of a system to provide anelectronic web sticky in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description of embodiments refers to theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of theinvention. Other embodiments having different structures and operationsdo not depart from the scope of the present invention.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the present inventionmay be embodied as a method, system, or computer program product.Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirelyhardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore,the present invention may take the form of a computer program product ona computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program codeembodied in the medium.

Any suitable computer usable or computer readable medium may beutilized. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, forexample but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device,or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) ofthe computer-readable medium would include the following: an electricalconnection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), anoptical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a transmission media such as those supportingthe Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device. Note that thecomputer-usable or computer-readable medium could even be paper oranother suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as theprogram can be electronically captured, via, for instance, opticalscanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, orotherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then storedin a computer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usableor computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentinvention may be written in an object oriented programming language suchas Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like. However, the computer program codefor carrying out operations of the present invention may also be writtenin conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codemay execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user'scomputer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may beconnected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

The present invention is described below with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) andcomputer program products according to embodiments of the invention. Itwill be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/orblock diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerprogram instructions. These computer program instructions may beprovided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purposecomputer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce amachine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor ofthe computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, createmeans for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchartand/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

FIGS. 1A and 1B (collectively FIG. 1) are a flow chart of an example ofa method 100 to provide an electronic web sticky in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. In block 102, a create web sticky(e-WS) feature, application or program may be activated or accessed. Theweb-stick feature may be activated or accessed by clicking-on orotherwise activating an icon, button or the like on a web page.

Referring also to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is an exemplary web page 200illustrating an example an electronic web sticky feature 202 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The electronicweb sticky feature 202 on a web page may be embodied in an electronicweb sticky or e-WS tool bar similar to an e-WS tool bar 204 in FIG. 2.The e-WS tool bar 204 may include an icon or button 206 that may belabeled “Add Web Sticky?” or other descriptive label of the function ofthe icon or button 206. The button 206 may be clicked-on or otherwiseactivated to create a web sticky using a computer pointing device ormouse that may be represented or rendered on a computer monitor ordisplay by an arrow 208 as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in block 104, an e-WS icon or symbol may beplaced proximate to a selected feature on a web page to which the websticky is to be associated. The selected feature may be a specificimage, text, a particular portion of the web page, a link that containsinformation, or another item that may appear on the web page and be ofinterest to a user creating the web sticky. As illustrated in FIG. 2, inone embodiment of the present invention, an e-WS icon 210 may be createdin response to clicking-on the “Add Web Sticky?” icon 206 with thecomputer pointing device 208. The e-WS icon 210 may then be dragged to aselected feature or location on the web page 200 to which the web stickyis to be associated. As described in more detail below, the e-WS icon210 may provide a link for some types of web stickies to information ordata associated with the web sticky that may be remotely stored on asystem or network, such as the Internet or private network.

In block 106, a dialogue box may be presented to a user for creating theweb sticky. In block 108, options for selecting which type of web stickyis to be created may be provided. Examples of the different types of webstickies may include a personal web sticky, a private web sticky, apublic web sticky or the like. As described in more detail herein, apersonal web sticky may include information that is available only forthe user who created the web sticky and may not be shared with aprovider of the web site or anyone else. A private web sticky mayinclude information that may be shared with an owner or provider of theweb page or site and may possibly be shared with other users or entitiesthat may be defined or authorized by the user that creates the websticky. A public web sticky may include information that may be sharedwith or made available to anyone that accesses the web page.

The web sticky feature 202 of FIG. 2 illustrates a dialogue box 212 thatincludes a field 214 for entering the e-WS information to be associatedwith the web sticky 210. The dialogue box may also include a pluralityof options 216 for selecting a type of web sticky that is to be created.A web sticky type option 216 may be selected by clicking on a radiobutton 218 or the like associated with a particular option.

In block 110 (FIG. 1A) a determination may be made if a personal e-WSoption was selected in block 108. If a personal web sticky is to becreated, the method 100 may advance to block 112. In block 112, a cookiemay be generated or formed to store information associated with the websticky. In block 114, the cookie may be stored in association with alocal host or computer that formed or created the web sticky. In block116, a web sticky icon may be generated and displayed in response to theuser accessing the web page to which the web sticky is associated.Referring also to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is an exemplary web page 300illustrating an example of a personal electronic web sticky 302 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The web sticky302 may be displayed in response to a computer pointing device arrow 304being positioned in contact with the web sticky icon 306. The web sticky302 may include an indicator 308 or label that the web sticky 303 is apersonal web sticky. The user may perform a “right-click” operation orsimilar operation to edit or delete the web sticky 302. The user mayalso be presented the web sticky options similar to that shown in FIG. 2to select a different web sticky type.

Returning to FIG. 1, if a determination is made in block 110 that apersonal web sticky was not selected in block 108 or is not beingcreated, the method 100 may advance to block 118. In block 118, adetermination may be made if a private web sticky option was selected inblock 108 and is to be created. If the determination is that a privateelectronic web sticky is to be created in block 118, the method 100 mayadvance to block 120. In block 120, information associated with theprivate web sticky may be stored at a predetermined location on thenetwork or system. In block 122, a link associated with the private websticky may be provided on the web page so that the information is onlyaccessible or available to the user that created the web sticky, aprovider or owner or owners of the web page or site and other persons orentities that may have been authorized to access the information. In oneembodiment of the present invention, the link may be to a blog,discussion forum or the like.

Referring also to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is an exemplary web page 400illustrating an example of a private electronic web sticky 402 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The privateelectronic web sticky 402 may be presented or made available to anauthorized user in response to a computer pointing device illustrated byarrow 406 contacting the web sticky icon 404. As discussed above anauthorized user may be the user that created the private web sticky, anowner or provider of the web page or site, or other persons or entitiesauthorized access to the information associated with the web sticky 402.In one embodiment of the present invention, the web sticky icon 404 mayonly be presented when an authorized user accesses the web page 400. Inanother embodiment of the invention, the private web sticky icon 404 maybe presented to everyone that accesses the web page 400 but the websticky 402 will only pop-up in response to a pointing device 406 of anauthorized user contacting the icon 404.

The private web sticky 402 may include an indicator 408 or other meansto identify the web sticky 402 as a private web sticky. The user mayalso edit or change the web sticky type by a right clicking operation orother operation. A dialogue box similar to dialogue box 212 (FIG. 2) maybe presented in response to the right click or other editing action forthe user to edit the private web sticky 402.

Returning to FIG. 1, if a determination is made in block 118 that aprivate web sticky option was not selected in block 108, the method 100may advance to block 124. In block 124, a determination may be madewhether a public web sticky option was selected in block 108 or a publicweb sticky is to be created. If a public web sticky option was notselected, the method 100 may end at termination 126 or by default apersonal web sticky may be created and the method 100 may return toblock 112.

If a determination is made in block 124 that a public web sticky wasselected in block 108, the method 100 may advance to block 128. In block128, information associated with the public web sticky may be stored ata predetermined location on the network or system. In block 130, a linkmay be provided in association with the web sticky icon on the web pagefor anyone accessing the web page to access the information associatedwith the web sticky. In block 132, links to other services or featuresmay be provided. Examples of other services or features may include aguest book, a blog, a discussion forum or the like. Other users may alsobe permitted to add information or respond to information on the publicweb sticky in block 132.

Referring also to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is an exemplary web page 500illustrating an example of a public electronic web sticky 502 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The publicelectronic web sticky 502 may be presented or displayed in response to acomputer pointing device embodied by arrow 504 in FIG. 5 contacting aweb sticky icon 506 in web page 500. The public web sticky 502 mayinclude an indicator 508 or other label to identify the sticky 502 as apublic sticky. As illustrated in FIG. 5, different users may enteradditional information in the public web sticky 502 or respond toquestions posed in the web sticky.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the different types ofweb stickies, i.e., personal e-WS, private e-WS, public e-WS or the likemay each be distinguished from one another by a different coloredbackground 509 or different colored font or style of font, or by anyother scheme that may be selected by the user to distinguish thedifferent types of web stickies.

The e-WS toolbar 204 in each of FIGS. 2-5 may illustrate an indication510 (FIG. 5) of the number of web stickies associated with the web siteor page being viewed. A box 512 asking if a user wants to display ane-WS summary may be presented in response to a user contacting theindicator 510 with the computer pointing device 504. FIG. 6 is anexample of a web sticky summary page 600 for a web site in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. The summary page 600 mayinclude sections 602 a-602 c for each of the different types of webstickies. The web stickies for each type may be displayed only to usersauthorized access to the respective stickies otherwise only anindication of the existence of a web sticky of that type may bepresented. Accordingly, only the user who created a personal web stickywould be able to view the personal web sticky 604 in the personal websticky or personal notes section 602 a. Similarly, only authorized userswould be able to view the private web sticky 606 in the private websticky or private notes section 602 b. However, every user may be ableto view the public web sticky 608 in the public web sticky or publicnotes section 602 c.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example of a system 700 to provide anelectronic web sticky in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The system 700 may include one or more user computer systemsor clients 702 that may each be a personal computer (PC), computerworkstation, portable computer device, such as a personal data assistant(PDA) or the like, or other computing device capable of accessing anetwork. The user computer system or client 702 may include a processor704. A web sticky application 706 may be operable on the processor 704.The method 100 as described with respect to FIG. 1 or some features ofthe method 100 may be embodied in the web sticky application 706. Abrowser 708 or web browser, such as Netscape, Microsoft's InternetExplorer, Mozilla or the like, may also be operable on the processor 704to access a network 710. Netscape is a trademark of NetscapeCommunications Corporation in the United States, other countries orboth. Internet Explorer is a trademark of the Microsoft Corporation inthe United States, other countries or both and Mozilla is a trademark ofthe Mozilla Foundation in the United States, other countries or both.The network 710 may be the Internet, private network, such as anintranet or extranet, or other type network.

Each user computer system 702 may also include input/output (IO) devices710. The I/O devices 710 may include input devices, output devices orcombination input/output devices. The I/O devices 710 may include amonitor, a keyboard, mouse or pointing device, drives, such asmechanical, magnetic or optical disk drives or the like, or otherdevices that may facilitate an end user operating and controlling theuser computer system 702 and the web sticky application 706.

The user computer system 702 may further include a data storage device712. The data storage device 712 may store other applications operableon the processor 704 and other data or information that may be used foroperation of the user computer system 702. The data storage device 712may also store cookies 714 for use with personal electronic web stickiesas described with respect to the method 100 of FIG. 1.

The system 700 may also include a server 716. The server 716 may beaccessed by the user computer systems 702 via their respective browsers708 and the network 710. Each server 716 may include a processor 718 anda web sticky application 720 operable on the processor 718. The websticky application may embody the method 100 of FIG. 1 or some elementsof the method 100 in coordination with the web sticky application 706operable on the processor 704 of the user computer system 702. Theserver 716 may also include a data storage device 722. The data storagedevice 722 may store information 724 associated with the web stickies,such as information associated with private or public web stickies asdescribed with respect to method 100.

Information associated with the web stickies may also be stored on thenetwork or system 700 at other predetermined locations as illustrated bydatabase 726.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems which perform the specified functions or acts, or combinationsof special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that anyarrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may besubstituted for the specific embodiments shown and that the inventionhas other applications in other environments. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the presentinvention. The following claims are in no way intended to limit thescope of the invention to the specific embodiments described herein.

1.-9. (canceled)
 10. A system to provide an electronic web sticky,comprising: a processor: a web sticky application operable on theprocessor for a user to place a web sticky icon proximate to a selectedfeature on a web page to which the web sticky is to be associated,wherein content of the electronic web sticky is only displayed inresponse to a predetermined action by the user, the content of theelectronic web sticky being displayed using a balloon that identifieswhich electronic web sticky icon is associated with the displayedcontent, and the web sticky icon being displayed outside of the balloon;and a plurality of options presentable to a user by the web stickyapplication for selecting a web sticky type.
 11. The system of claim 10,wherein the plurality of options for selecting a web sticky typecomprise: a personal web sticky option; a private web sticky option; anda public web sticky option.
 12. The system of claim 10, furthercomprising a data structure to generate a cookie to store informationassociated with the web sticky in response to a private web sticky typebeing created on the web page.
 13. The system of claim 10, furthercomprising a link being provided in association with the web sticky iconfor only a user that created the web sticky, an owner of the web pageand any other authorized persons to access information associated withthe web sticky in response to a private web sticky being created on theweb page.
 14. The system of claim 10, further comprising a link beingprovided in association with the web sticky icon for anyone to accessinformation associated with the web sticky in response to a public websticky being created on the web page.
 15. A computer program readablestorage medium to provide an electronic web sticky, the computerreadable storage medium comprising: computer usable program codeconfigured to facilitate placing a web sticky icon proximate to aselected feature on a web page to which the web sticky is to beassociated; computer usable program code configured to only displaycontent of the electronic web sticky in response to a predeterminedaction by the user, the content of the electronic web sticky beingdisplayed using a balloon that identifies which electronic web stickyicon is associated with the displayed content, and the web sticky iconbeing displayed outside of the balloon; and computer usable program codeconfigured to provide a plurality of options for selecting a web stickytype.
 16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, furthercomprising computer usable program code configured to provide optionsfor selecting one of a personal web sticky, a private web sticky, and apublic web sticky.
 17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15,further comprising computer usable program code configured to generate acookie to store information associated with the web sticky in responseto a personal web sticky type being created on the web page.
 18. Thecomputer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:computer usable program code configured to store information associatedwith the web sticky on a network in response to a private web stickytype being created on the web page; and computer usable program codeconfigured to provide a link associated with the web sticky icon on theweb page for only a user that created the private web sticky, an ownerof the web page and any other authorized persons to access theinformation.
 19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15,further comprising: computer usable program code configured to storeinformation associated with the web sticky on a network in response to apublic web sticky type being created on the web page; and computerusable program code configured to provide a link associated with the websticky icon on the web page for anyone to access the information. 20.The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:computer usable program code configured to make a personal web stickyaccessible to only a user that created the personal web sticky inresponse to a personal web sticky option being selected; computer usableprogram code configured to make a private web sticky accessible to onlythe user that created the private web sticky, an owner of the web pageand any other authorized users in response to a private web stickyoption being selected; and computer usable program code configured tomake a public web sticky accessible to anyone that accesses the web pagein response to a public web sticky option being selected.
 21. A systemto provide an electronic web sticky, comprising: a processor; a websticky application operable on the processor for a user to place a websticky icon proximate to a selected feature on a web page to which theweb sticky is to be associated, wherein the web sticky application isadapted to only display content of the electronic web sticky in responseto a predetermined action by the user, the content of the electronic websticky being displayed using a balloon that identifies which electronicweb sticky icon is associated with the displayed content, and the websticky icon being displayed outside of the balloon; and a dialogue boxpresentable to the user by the web sticky application to create the websticky to be associated with the web sticky icon.
 22. The system ofclaim 21, further comprising a plurality of options presentable to theuser by the web sticky application for creating the web sticky.
 23. Thesystem of claim 21, wherein the dialogue box comprises a field to permitinformation to be entered by the user to be associated with the websticky icon.
 24. The system of claim 21, wherein the dialogue boxcomprises means for selecting a type of web sticky from a plurality oftypes of web stickies.
 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the pluralityof web stickies comprises: a personal web sticky being accessible byonly the creator of the web sticky; a private web sticky beingaccessible by only an authorized group of users; and a public web stickybeing accessible by any user accessing the web page.
 26. The system ofclaim 23, further comprising means for presenting the informationentered by the user to only other users authorized to view theinformation in response to a computer pointing device being positionedin contact with the web sticky icon.
 27. The system of claim 21 furthercomprising means for presenting a word label to any users accessing theweb page to identify a type of web sticky in response to a computerpointing device contacting the web sticky icon on the web page.
 28. Thesystem of claim 27, further comprising: means for presenting to the useraccessing the web page a personal web sticky label that labels the websticky as a personal web sticky in response to the web sticky beingaccessible by only a creator of the web sticky; means for presenting tothe user accessing the web page a private web sticky label that labelsthe web sticky as a private web sticky in response to the web stickybeing accessible by only select users authorized by the creator of theweb sticky; and means for presenting to the user accessing the web pagea public web sticky label that labels the web sticky as a public websticky in response to the web sticky being accessible by any useraccessing the web page.